Monday, July 25, 2011

Another Victim?

Gossips received word this morning that the tree crew had started work on this tree next to 123 Union Street. The rain seems to have stayed the execution, because when Gossips arrived on the scene, the traffic cones set out in the street were the only evidence of activity. It is believed that this is a Norway Spruce, like the two that were felled on Friday in the yard at 25 Union Street.

11 comments:

Do you think this mean that Galloway plans to build something in the side yard there? Could he? How do we find out if he has a variance? Is there anything preventing him from building anything anywhere?

The good news is that, in order to subdivide this lot or the lot at 35 Union, he's going to have to go before the Planning Commission for approval of the subdivision, as well as the Zoning Board of Appeals for an area variance. This wasn't the case when he subdivided the corner of First and Union into four building lots, or when he carved up the grounds of 317 Allen Street, separating the carriage house from the main house and building two houses, encroaching on Willard Place, where there once were lawns, a tennis court, and a pergola. Of course, that's counting on these boards to do the right thing, but at the very least it necessitates public hearings.

To respond to the query relating to possible new construction in former gardens of houses in Hudson's historic districts, of which Union Street is one, the City Code places control on differing agencies including Planning, Zoning, Historic Preservation, and Code Enforcement. The initial subdivision of any property is under the purview of the Planning Commission, see paragraph 325-35.1 of the City Code. The members of the Planning Commission are listed on the City of Hudson Website under Boards and Committees, and their meetings are open to the public.

The Historic Preservation Commission according to City Code has authority to maintain the historic character of the neighborhood. The members are also listed on the City of Hudson Website and its meetings are also open to the public.

From City Code Chapter 169-5 [Amended 6-15-2010 by L.L. No. 3-2010]"A certificate of appropriateness is required to carry out any exterior alteration, additions, restoration, reconstruction, demolition, new construction, or moving of a landmark or property within an historic district, or to make any material change in the appearance of such a property or its windows, or install or move a satellite dish. This certificate is to be obtained prior to obtaining a building permit. A certificate of appropriateness must be obtained even if a building permit is not required. Noncontributing properties within an historic district must also follow the same procedure. An application for a certificate of appropriateness for the alteration or addition of a sign in an historic district or associated with a landmark may only be submitted to the Historic Preservation Commission after issuance by the Building Inspector of an erection permit pursuant to Chapter 244."

Unfortunately, the Preservation Commission has no enforcement power. Enforcement is solely through Code Enforcement, which is Peter Wurster. Chapter 169-12 and 169-14.

I suggest that all citizens inform themselves of the City Code, easily accessible on-line, make a pro-active effort to ensure that the city's laws are enforced, and bring their complaints and point of views directly to the public hearings of the commissions and to the city council. And VOTE. No one is going to do that for you.

What is wrong with Galloway. Doesn't he like trees with any age to them. He cuts down 50 yr old trees and then expects thanks for planting sapplings (inappropriate kinds that don't survive).He appearently doesn't understand the importance of mature trees to property values.

Some Catastrophic Moments in Hudson's History and Architecture1. 1825,1838, and 1844: Fires destroy large swathes of early Hudson.2. 1851 Opening of the Hudson Iron Works and laying of the RR tracks in the Great South Bay 3. c1900-1910: Opening of Hudson's Cement Plants4. 1950's-1970s Urban Renewal resulting in: --Destruction of First Block of Warren Street --Destruction of West side of Front Street below Parade (Promenade) Hill and sections of First Ward --Destruction of Captain John Hathaway House --Destruction of General Worth Hotel --"Redesign" of Seventh Street Park with loss of its fountain 5. 1970s-1990s: Local Government's continued disinterest in Hudson's historic architectural heritage results in the general decay of the historic fabric and the destruction of various early buildings around the city and the effectual abandonment of the city's most important early public building: The Almshouse/Asylum, now ( for the moment) the Library6. 2000-present. The New Urban Renewal. Local Government's collusion with developers in the pseudo-historic redesign of a substantial number of the city's early house, called by some The Gallowegian Style.

When Historic accuracy is sacrificed to the creation of a style that never was, history is lost forever.

"In all of Hudson's buildings, if we have the eyes to see them for what they are, the will to imagine what they were and yet could be, and the willingness to preserve and protect them as we must, we can locate both the dreams and the reality of the city's history. In a very real sense Hudson's buildings are its history, and like time machines they transport us to other days. Stand on any street and look around you: two centuries come alive before your eyes, past and present all in one."Byrne Fone--Historic Hudson: An Architectural Portrait

Well said..you are missed in town and your comments speak for many of us. As I said years ago and continue to comment, it is quite a statement when a new Hudsonian takes the time to preserve and capture the history and flavor of the past, and the natives fail to appreciate the heritage, the present and the future.

A reader having trouble with the Blogger commenting system asked me to post this comment for her:

I watched the decay of the Taylor house, which I lived in through my mother's side of the family. I just can't sit idly by and watch these beautiful trees that I grew up with on lower Union Street, where I grew up on my paternal side. What the hell is Eric Galloway doing? These trees are, let a woman be knownst her age, as old as I am. They were not infested as far as I could tell from my frequent jaunts through the neighborhood.

To one of the Gossips posters, just let it be known that maybe many more native Hudsonians appreciate what we have and lament our losses. We just have to join forces with our new neighbors to prevent the type of collusion with local government that sacrifices our truly, unique, city.

I am sure ( and indeed know) from almost 30 years experience in Hudson that many, very many, native Hudsonians are very passionate about the city's heritage and its architecture. When I first gave little talks based on my book to various local groups, people came who lived in the city all their lives, and whose families had lived there for generations.They always demonstrated a depth of knowledge about and passion for the city and its great houses, proving what is said above. It always interested, and rather pleased me, that such audiences were very often predominantly "old Hudson" and "newcomers" were rare. At one lecture a woman of a certain age stopped by and kindly complimented me on the book and the talk. I asked her how long she had lived in Hudson. Oh we've been here about 300 years she said. "We used to own it all." Local historians will know what illustrious name she bore.

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About The Gossips of Rivertown

This blog takes its name from the 1850 novel by Hudson author Alice B. Neal. The original Gossips of Rivertown cast a gimlet eye on Hudson society in the mid-19th century. More than a century and a half later, the new Gossips carries on the spirit of the original, but in a different genre and with a different focus.